| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Northern Illinois Huskies |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-American Conference |
| Division: | West Division |
| Short Conf: | MAC |
| Record: | 9–5 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Head Coach: | Thomas Hammock |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Coach: | Eric Eidsness |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Coach: | Derrick Jackson |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | Huskie Stadium |
| Champion: | MAC champion MAC West Division co-champion |
| Conf Champ: | MAC Championship Game |
| Conf Champ Result: | W 41–23 vs. Kent State |
| Bowl: | Cure Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 41–47 vs. Coastal Carolina |
The 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Thomas Hammock, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 9–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference playing, sharing the MAC's West Division title with Central Michigan. By virtue of a head-to-head win over Central Michigan, Northern Illinois advanced to the MAC Championship Game and defeated Kent State to win the program's six MAC championship.[1] The Huskies invited to the Cure Bowl, where they lost to Coastal Carolina on December 17.[2] [3] The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
On November 9, the school announced that Hammock had signed a contract extension through the 2026 season.[4] With their win over Buffalo on November 17, the Huskies clinched the West Division championship and a berth in the MAC Championship Game.[5]
As a result of the limited season in 2020 due to COVID-19, the NCAA granted a waiver to allow athletes to transfer to another school and be eligible immediately without having to sit out a season.[6] In April 2021, the NCAA further made one-time transfers for all college athletes to be eligible immediately.[7] As a result, transfers were much more common this year than in prior years.
Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi, who started six games for the Spartans in 2020, announced he would transfer to Northern Illinois.[8] [9]
In the league's annual preseason poll, the Huskies were picked to finish in last place in the West.[10]
The Huskies played Maine and Wyoming at home while traveling to Georgia Tech and Michigan for non-conference games in 2021.[11] [12]
See also: 2021 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team.
| Statistics | NIU | GT |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 15 | 25 |
| Total yards | 301 | 429 |
| Rushes/yards | 42/165 | 52/273 |
| Passing yards | 136 | 156 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–17–0 | 15–26–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:55 | 31:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois | Passing | 11–17, 136 yards, 2 TD | |
| Rushing | Harrison Waylee | 27 carries, 144 yards, 1 TD | |
| Receiving | Tyrice Richie | 2 receptions, 64 yards | |
| Georgia Tech | Passing | Jordan Yates | 12–18, 135 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | 20 carries, 99 yards | ||
| Receiving | Malachi Carter | 6 receptions, 92 yards |
See also: 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMU –6.0 | 56.0 |
| Statistics | Northern Illinois | Central Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 25 | 25 |
| Total yards | 548 | 500 |
| Rushing yards | 197 | 189 |
| Passing yards | 351 | 311 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:09 | 23:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 17/27, 348 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Jay Ducker | 31 carries, 183 yards | |
| Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 6 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs | |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 23/36, 289 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 22 carries, 192 yards, 2 TDs | |
| Receiving | Kalil Pimpleton | 6 receptions, 130 yards, 1 TD | |
See also: 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENT –3.5 | 72.0 |
| Statistics | Northern Illinois | Kent State |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 32 | 31 |
| Total yards | 663 | 682 |
| Rushing yards | 131 | 360 |
| Passing yards | 532 | 322 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 35:04 | 24:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 33/57, 532 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Jay Ducker | 19 carries, 101 yards, 2 TDs | |
| Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 14 receptions, 309 yards, 3 TDs | |
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 20/30, 322 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 23 carries, 173 yards, 2 TDs | |
| Receiving | Dante Cephas | 5 receptions, 124 yards | |
See also: 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team and Bronze Stalk Trophy.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| BALL –3.0 | 59.0 |
| Statistics | Ball State | Northern Illinois | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 17 | 26 | |
| Total yards | 372 | 475 | |
| Rushing yards | 246 | 211 | |
| Passing yards | 126 | 264 | |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 | |
| Time of possession | 23:16 | 36:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 11/26, 126 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Carson Steele | 21 carries, 109 yards | |
| Receiving | Jalen McGaughy | 1 reception, 45 yards | |
| Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 23/38, 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Jay Ducker | 24 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD | |
| Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 8 receptions, 108 yards | |
See also: 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team and 2021 MAC Championship Game.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENT –3.5 | 75.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Northern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 24 | 28 |
| Total yards | 391 | 368 |
| Rushing yards | 195 | 266 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 102 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 19:59 | 40:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 11/21, 128 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Rushing | Xavier Williams | 8 carries, 93 yards | |
| Receiving | Dante Cephas | 7 receptions, 102 yards | |
| Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 7/15, 102 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Jay Ducker | 29 carries, 146 yards | |
| Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 3 receptions, 50 yards | |